Improvement in reefing and furling gaff top-sails



B. P. LEcnAw.

Reeng and Furling G aff-Topsails. No.l67 ,9ll.

Patented Sept. 21,1875,

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UMDESSES:

NA PETERS. PHoT-UTNUGRAPHEW, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN P. LEcRAw, 0E SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN REEFING AND FURLING GAFF-TOP-SAILS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 167,9, dated September 21, 1875; application led August 19, 1875.

To all 'whom it may concern.-

Bc it known that I, BENJAMIN P. LECRAW, of Salem, Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Double-Gaf Top-Sails, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide a sail which is convenient of operation, and which will allow of furling small portions of the canvas at a time; and it consists in the form and structure of the double-grafi` top-sails and mainsails of a vessel, and in the means employed to operate the same, as hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawing, which ,is a side elevation, represents a schooner-rigged mast, fitted with sails of my invention. Let A represent the mainsail, thetop of which is out away, so as to bring the gai' alower down than usual, and obviate the necessity of more.

than two reefs, as shown. B is an intermediate gaft' top-sail of triangular form, attached to the maininast by hoops, and provided with a brail, b, by which it can be furled and brailed' to the mast. This brail b is fastened at the extreme end of the sail, runs along the edge to the point c, and thence diagonally across thesail to the mast at pulley c', from which it descends to the deck. The sail B is spread, and held to the wind bythe sheet d, passing through a sheave, e, in the gaff end, and a pulley, f, on the gaff near the mast, as shown.l j C is the upper gaft'top-sail, and is manipulated by a sheet, h, passing along the ga' inthe same way as theabove-described sheet d, and by a brail, g, running from the mast along the under side of the sail through rings to the corner, from which it passes up along the outer edge of the sail to a block, g, in the topmast, from which it descends to the deck, as shown.

The peak-halyard chain D, supporting the end of the gaft', passes over the pulley i at the top of the mainmast, and thence down to the deck, where it is operated by tackle k.

vThe throat-halyard E is attached to the gaff at l, passes over a sheave, m, housed in the mainmast, and extends downward to the decktackle n. The niainsail A is of the usual construction, being stretched between the gail a f and main-boom, as represented.

By my construction oi' the gafi' top-sails,- I.

am enabled to furl small portions of the canvas at a time, and very quickly, which in squally weather is a great advantage. These sails being also operated entirely from the deck, and having comparatively few ropes, which are not liable to get out of order, their advantage is obvious.

I do not claim an intermediate sail B between the mainsail and upper gaft' top-sail, as

this is not original with me 5 but l. The device consisting of the lower ga top-sail QB, provided with a brail, b, attached to the outer corner of the same, and extending thence along the upper edge to a suitable point, c, and thence diagonally across the sail, as shown, for brailing or furling the sail to the mast, and also having a sheet, d, attached to its outer corner, and passing over pulleys c f, for the purpose of setting the sail, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown.

2. The upper gaff top-sail C, provided with sheet h for spreading and brail g for furling, said brail runningV through eyes along the edgesot1 the sail, as shown, and passing from pulley g to the deck, substantially as set forth. e

In Witnesswhereof I have hereunto signed my name in Vthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJ. P. LEGRAW.

Witnesses: I

MONROE F. CONNOR, ARTHUR G. FRASER. 

